ASSERTING that corruption is a “moral and spiritual issue,” Archbishop Jose Cabantan challenged the Catholic Church to lead the campaign for transparency by first opening its own financial records to the public.
Speaking to 400 parishioners at a rally in Gaston Park on Saturday, Cabantan said the Church must set the example if it expects government officials to be accountable. He committed to discussing the Archdiocese’s finances and economic activities transparently with lay leaders and church-based organizations.
“The Church should lead by setting an example,” Cabantan said.
The rally was held one day ahead of the nationwide “Trillion Peso March” to avoid potential conflict with a political rally for former President Rodrigo Duterte, whose supporters secured a permit for the City Amphitheater for Sunday.
‘Restitution, not just punishment’
Cabantan emphasized that justice for the millions of pesos lost to corruption requires more than just jail time for offenders.
“Justice demands more than punishment. It needs restitution by returning the wealth stolen,” he said, noting that stolen funds are resources stripped directly from the poor.
The Archbishop cited the recent case of former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) official Henry Alcantara as a positive example. Alcantara recently returned P110 million — part of P300 million in admitted kickbacks from Bulacan flood control projects — to the Department of Justice.
Cabantan expressed hope that Alcantara’s gesture would spark a trend of restitution among other guilty officials.
No call for ouster
Despite the strong stance against graft, Cabantan clarified the Archdiocese is not joining calls to unseat President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. or replace him with the Vice President. The protest remains focused on systemic accountability rather than regime change.
Meanwhile, in Iligan City, Bishop Jose Ramirez Rapadas III urged parishioners to join the Sunday nationwide protests, warning that the country “is nearing the breaking point.”
“We must not be complacent about it in order to help make things right,” Rapadas said.
